A Hebrew Stuck in Modern Babylon

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Tradition

I had heard a lot about these pagan holidays reading Come Out of Her My People by C.J. Koster, but I learned even more from this video. Some interesting highlights include that Easter eggs were originally dyed with infants’ blood, and the treasure brought by the Magi was from Daniel. I recommend checking it out.

Abandoning these traditions and honoring Yahweh’s appointed times is a little challenging. It’s not hard to make the mental switch, I was decided as soon as I heard a sermon on it from Pastor Mark McLellan of the Harvest congregation in Colorado. But actually implementing them?

Not doing Easter this year was easy. I was in Japan, so there was no Easter dinner or service I was obligated to. The spring festivals? I was still (and am still) new to it all, so I wasn’t sure how to observe them. For example, the festival of unleavened bread is a challenge because I can’t eat bread anyway. So was I supposed to tell my host mom I wouldn’t be eating bread, even though I wasn’t eating it already? I did count the days of Omer…That wasn’t too hard.

But now I’m looking forward to the fall festivals. I bought a (kindle edition) book on how to observe the festivals, and I’m going to organize events to include my friends and introduce them to the true appointed, set-apart days. I’ve already booked space for Yom Kippur, and I’m thinking I should book the same space for Rosh Hashanah too. Sukkot? I’m thinking I’ll rent some tents to live on the quad for a week. I’m pretty serious about that, and seriously excited.

The challenge comes with Christmas. Of course my family is deeply rooted in Christmas. So what do I do? Keep my family from decorating? Forbid them from giving me presents? Will I not even go to Grandma’s on the day? I am praying about it, and I know Yahweh will give me wisdom when the time comes. That doesn’t mean it will be easy. It will be a trial, and continue to be for at least the first few years.

But I take joy and strength in all of it. I have begun to feel the joy of obedience, and it is wonderful. I read Kedoshim Ministries’ post from yesterday, and although I am not at the stage in my journey that Bithiah is, I feel more of that “true joy” everyday. I will obey Yahweh because I love Him, and He loves me. It’s so exciting!

(Side ramble: The Hebrew romanization system is different from the Japanese system, so I get confused on both spelling and pronunciation. Oy vey.)

Yahweh bless you and keep you
Yahweh make His face to shine upon you
Yahweh lift His face upon you and gives you Shalom